Method and system for buying and selling bras

ABSTRACT

A method of and system for buying or selling bras involves establishing a database of bras containing bra characteristic data including bra size and bra cup size measured from a sample of actual bras; measuring a wearer&#39;s breast and torso size to obtain wearer characteristic data; searching the database to find bra characteristic data within the database matching the wearer characteristic data; and listing for selection by the wearer any bras in the database whose characteristics match the wearer characteristic data.

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/110,821, filed Jul. 18, 2002, entitled MEASURING DEVICE AND METHOD,which was the National Stage entry in the United States ofPCT/GB00/04022, filed Oct. 18, 2000, which claims priority toGB9924618.3, filed Oct. 18, 1999 and GB0016464.0, filed Jul. 4, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method of measurement forthe fitting of bras. More generally the invention encompassesimprovements relating to the sale, fitting and purchase of bras andmeasurement of bras, as well as related quality assurance techniquesrelating to bras.

The present invention relates to a device and method of measurement forthe fitting of bras. More generally the invention encompassesimprovements relating to the sale, fitting and purchase of bras andmeasurement of bras, as well as related quality assurance techniquesrelating to bras.

In this specification, the term ‘bra’ will be used conveniently toencompass all clothing designed closely to fit a wearer's breasts, thusincluding other forms of lingerie such as body suits, as well asswimwear and other sportswear such as leotards.

Bra fitting is bedevilled by variations in size, shape and dispositionof the breasts, by the amorphous nature of the breasts themselves, andby the fact that many women are never measured for bra size, eitherprofessionally or otherwise. Nevertheless, when buying a bra, most womenknow from previous experience roughly the size that is required. This isalways an approximation as changes occur to the size and shape ofbreasts at different times during the menstrual cycle and as the yearsprogress. Also, substantial and often irreversible changes in breastsize and shape can occur during and after pregnancy.

A typical way to chose a bra is either by choosing a favourite style ormake, regardless of the accuracy of the fit, or to try on a selection ofstyles in a range of sizes and makes. In this way, best fit isascertained by trial and error. Both processes take time, are dependenton available stock and do not always result in the purchase of aproperly fitting bra. Often, when looking for a particular style, thestyle will have been discontinued or the appropriate size is out ofstock. In this case, the consumer must resort to trial and error ofother styles and/or makes or return to the retail outlet at a laterdate.

When choosing bras from mail order catalogues or via the Internet, theoption of trying a bra for fit is much more restricted since, if the bradoes not fit, it must be returned to the provider, usually by mail, andanother choice made. If the consumer is unsure of the size she requires,it could take several attempts and much time and frustration before anappropriate bra is found. Alternatively, the consumer may order morethan one bra with a view to returning the ones that are incorrect. Thisprocess wastes resources, especially for the retailer, who may have torepackage and redistribute the returned items.

The quest to find a correct fitting bra is further compounded by theproblem that a lot of women fall in between available standard sizes andthat the so-called standard sizes are not uniform between differentmakes and styles of bras. For example, a 34B bra supplied by one makermay provide an adequate fit in a particular style. However, a 34B in asimilar style made by a different maker may provide a different, perhapsless good, fit.

The composition of a bra, such as its elastane or Lycra® content,together with additional features such as underwires, padding etc., alsoaffect the fit of a bra and must be taken into account when choosing thecorrect size.

For women who are unsure of their size, some retail outlets provide abra measuring service whereby measurements are taken either with orwithout a bra being worn. Apart from the advantage of obtaining expertadvice or at least a second opinion as to fit, professional measuringservices have many drawbacks. For example, if the measurement is takenwith a bra on, there is the advantage that the breasts are supported butthe resulting measurement may be inaccurate if the bra is not anaccurate fit to start with. If the measurement is taken without a brabeing worn, the measurement will also be inaccurate since the breastsare unsupported and therefore are of a different shape and volumecompared to when they are supported.

The significance of support is that a breast is largely constituted offatty tissue having a resiliently compressible, gelatinous consistencywhose shape and volume will adapt to some extent to suit a receptaclesuch as a bra cup in which the breast is contained. When there is nosuch support, gravity will change both the shape and volume of thebreast, obviously with increasing effect the greater the size and weightof the breast.

Even a professional measuring service is not immune from the drawbackthat the accuracy of breast and torso measurement for fitting a bra willusually depend on the level of training and experience of the persondoing the measuring. It is also true that bra-fitting experts apply anelement of subjectivity to their work. The aim of such experts is not toarrive at a universal bra size measurement that the user can apply withconfidence to bras in general, but instead to fit the consumer to one ofthe bras available in stock, the purpose of measurement therefore beingto select a limited range of bras that the user can try on and selectfrom. As noted above, such trial and error is all well and good in astore environment if the consumer has the time and inclination to visitthe store, but it does not suit the mail order and Internet shoppingmethods that many consumers increasingly prefer.

A further problem with professional measuring services is that manywomen feel uncomfortable about being measured in a semi-naked state by astranger. As a result, the measurement/fitting may be hurried andincorrect advice given.

Self-measuring guides are therefore available. These generally involvemeasuring the circumference of the torso under the breasts to obtain atorso measurement, followed by taking a measurement across the breastsat the largest point, i.e. across the nipples in an ‘over-bust’measurement. Then, these measurements are put into a formula to work outa nominal torso and bra cup size. The bra cup size is related to torsosize and also to the difference between torso size and over-bustmeasurement. In other words, the difference between torso size andover-bust measurement imputes a cup size for a given torso size.However, the product of the formula is only as good as the measurementsthat are put into the formula, and unfortunately those measurements areoften inaccurate.

For example, as noted above, a certain level of expertise is required toachieve any degree of accuracy; one could hardly expect an inexpertwoman, usually working on her own, to match the accuracy of measurementof an experienced bra-fitter. In particular, it is difficult to be surethat a measuring tape is held at an appropriate tension and in thecorrect position, which is especially difficult to ascertain across theback, either with or without the aid of a mirror. Also, the cross-nippleor over-bust measurement introduces an inherent inaccuracy because itdoes not take proper account of the effect of the varying depth andwidth of the cleavage between the breasts. The measuring tape bridgesthe cleavage rather than following the contour, and so cannot accuratelytell if a particular apparent breast size is due to the degree ofseparation and protrusion of the breasts rather than the overall breastsize.

Furthermore, the final measurement will be dependent on the type of brabeing worn, it being noted that measurement often takes place whilewearing a bra and that different bras impose different shapes upon thebreasts that they support. A particular source of inaccuracy ariseswhere the bra is designed to flatten the breast or maximise cleavagebecause such distortion of the breasts gives a misleading over-bustmeasurement. In general, there is a tendency to overestimate torso sizeand to underestimate over-bust measurement: as cup size is imputed fromthe difference between those measurements and with regard to the torsosize, the combination or sum of errors in these critical measurementsmagnifies errors in apparent cup size.

Consequently, many women wear ill-fitting bras that are uncomfortableand provide insufficient support, which has adverse effects on postureand shape in later years. The correct fitting of a bra is especiallyimportant while breasts are developing during the teenage years andincorrect fitting during this time can lead to complications in lateryears.

The problems outlined above have been recognised for some years andvarious attempts have been made to invent devices to overcome theseproblems. For example, GB 2201579 (Sutherland) describes a measurementand fitting harness set for determining cup size and (optionally) othersizes or fittings for a production line or made-to-order bra. Theharness has two breast-receiving cups, adjustable body and neck supportstraps and adjustable spacing between the cups. It is provided that atleast one cup should differ in size by a predetermined measurement fromother cups of other pairs. The unit size of the cups is based on unitsof maximum width at the widest part of the breast-receiving cup,providing a series of discrete sizes.

The user is provided with a set of eight harnesses for self-measurementwhereby the correct cup size is selected by trial, i.e. the measuringtechnique described is akin to trying on a range of sizes in a retailoutlet. An advantage of the measuring device described is that thebreasts are measured in a supported state. However, since the sizing ofthe cups is dictated by the sizing provided by the harness, this doesnot provide an accurate measurement of breast size or overcome theproblem of non-uniformity between the sizes of different makes andstyles of bras. Therefore, the measurement obtained from the device mayonly be used to provide a rough estimate of size around which theconsumer should look for an appropriately fitting bra. It follows thatthe consumer must still go through the process of trial and error tofind a bra that fits correctly.

It is also apparent that the harness set of GB 2201579 is very complexto manufacture and to use, and would be prohibitively expensive foroccasional or one-off use.

GB 1468762, also in the name of Sutherland, describes a harness forascertaining torso and strap measurements as well as the separationbetween the two breasts. The cup size is fixed and specified by the userso that a suitable harness can be supplied. Measurement indicia areprovided by a series of numbered hooks and eyes or interlocking slottedtape measures.

In order, for example, to measure accurately the length of shoulderstrap required, the user must fiddle with small hooks and eyes behindher back. Unless the numerical indicia are sufficiently large, it canfairly be assumed that the scale is not readily visible and that itwould be difficult to obtain an accurate measurement without muchfiddling and possibly the help of a second person.

FR 2520999 to Dessapt describes a device for determining breast volumefor patients requiring prosthesis or surgical enlargement. The deviceallows the surgeon to obtain accurate information on the required volumebefore carrying out surgery, and enables the patient to appreciate thelikely result beforehand, as well as participating in the decisionregarding size. The device includes cups of differing volumes, which canbe interchangeably attached to the same harness.

The measurement provided by this device is a volumetric measurementwhich provides information on how much material is required to fill aselected volume, rather than how best to support the volume.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,855 (Shiraiwa) describes a measuring device formeasuring breast shape. Measurements are taken from the base of thebreast to the nipple, and the horizontal width of the breast across thenipple, by means of two tape measures mounted on a curved base memberwhich is located underneath the breast in use. The sum of the valuesprovided by the two tape measures can be used to select an appropriatecup size and shape. The device is also designed so that it can be mailedto the user, as well as for use in shops.

A major drawback with this device is that the breast is measured in theunsupported shape which, as outlined above, is far from ideal.

Even if a breast is supported during measurement, the way in which thebreast is supported can introduce substantial inaccuracies. A primeexample of this problem is evident from GB 2044470 which disclosescalibrated receptacles for measuring breast volume. The receptacles areformed by bending or rolling flat sheets of clear plastics and tworeceptacle shapes are suggested, one being rolled from a circular sheetto form a cone-shaped receptacle and the other being rolled from anoblong sheet to form a tubular receptacle. The user then forces herbreast into the receptacle while holding the receptacle against its ownresilience to prevent it unfurling back into a flat sheet. The volume ofthe breast within the receptacle is read off by measuring thecircumference of the base of the cone or, in the oblong-sheet tubularembodiment, by measuring the position of a piston within the tube.

The main problem in prior art such as GB 2044470 is that the user has toforce her breast into the receptacle to cram the breast into everycorner of the receptacle, this being the only way of filling thereceptacle to measure breast volume. The oblong-sheet tubular embodimenteven requires the user to press the piston into the end of the tubeagainst the front of the breast. So, the circular-sheet, conicalembodiment measures the volume of a conical, highly-compressed breastwhereas the oblong-sheet, tubular embodiment measures the volume of aflat-fronted cylindrical highly-compressed breast. Such is the degree ofcompression necessary to contort the breast into the receptacle that thevolume of the breast reduces to an extent that completely undermines itspurported volumetric measurement.

Another problem of prior art such as GB 2044470 is that the edge of thereceptacle closest to the user's torso in use is planar. So, thereceptacle does not fit snugly against the curvature of the user's torsoaround the breast unless it is pressed uncomfortably into the user'sflesh.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,409 (Sehres) discloses a bra-sizecalculator whose aim is to provide a convenient means for calculatingbra and bra cup sizes based on measurements typically used byprofessional bra-fitters. This document is interesting largely toillustrate that the complexity of self-measurement has created the needfor such a device, and for its more detailed discussion of existingprofessional bra-fitting techniques. There is also a particularlyrevealing tale in the introduction concerning two hundred women whothought that they were bra size 34B, but only two of whom when measuredactually turned out to be that size.

Nevertheless, the bra-size calculator of U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,409 doesnothing to facilitate accurate measurement and so suffers the problem ofall non-intelligent calculating or computing devices, colloquiallyreferred to as ‘garbage in, garbage out’: a bra-size calculator providedwith the wrong measurements will unerringly produce the wrong brafitting. Even if, against all odds, a user accurately makes all threemeasurements required by the calculator, enters those measurementscorrectly and then uses the calculator properly to produce a nominallycorrect result, fundamental problems remain. These are that themeasurements themselves are not taken directly from the breast—breastsize is merely inferred from other measurements—and there is noguarantee that a nominally matching bra will actually match the measuredbra size.

It is against this background that the present invention has been made.The invention aims to provide an accurate measurement of breasts andbras which facilitates the selection of the correct bra size and styleto suit an individual's requirements. Put simply, an objective of theinvention is to recommend to a user a range of bras that will fit, not arange of bras of a given nominal size that may or may not fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From one aspect, the invention resides in a bra measuring apparatus formeasuring a bra as herein defined, the apparatus comprising supportmeans for supporting a bra, at least one bladder expandable underinternal fluid pressure within a cup of a bra thus supported, andmeasurement means for measuring the volume and/or pressure of the fluidwithin the bladder when the cup of the bra has been filled.

The support means is suitably shaped to emulate a torso and can bedivided into segments so that adjustment means can adjust separationbetween the segments and hence the girth of the artificial torso. Firstand second bladders are preferably situated on respective segments, theor each bladder is shaped to emulate a breast, and the or each bladderis interchangeable with bladders of different sizes and/or shapes.

The measurement means preferably includes a volumetric scale adapted tomeasure the volume of fluid delivered to the or each bladder and mayalso include a pressure sensor in communication with the or eachbladder. A detector associated with this pressure sensor can detect adiscontinuity in pressure rise when the cup of the bra is filled by thebladder, whereupon means associated with the detector suitably stopsexpansion of the bladder.

Surface pressure sensors can be associated with the support means, andstress sensors can be associated with the bra.

The corresponding bra measuring method comprises supporting a bra,expanding a bladder under internal fluid pressure until a cup of the brathus supported has been filled, and measuring the volume and/or pressureof the fluid within the bladder that fills the cup. This methodadvantageously further comprises observing fit on a support meanssupporting the bra, for example by observing deflection of a supportsurface of the support means and/or by observing any gap between the cupand the support means.

A plurality of nominally identical bras can be measured to determinemanufacturing tolerance, this method suitably comprising selecting arandom sample of bras from a bra production facility, measuring the brasof that sample, and feeding back tolerance information to that facility.

In a related aspect, the invention resides in a method of buying orselling bras as herein defined. The method comprises establishing adatabase of bras containing bra characteristic data including bra sizeand bra cup size measured from a sample of actual bras; measuring awearer's breast and torso size to obtain wearer characteristic data;searching the database to find bra characteristic data within thedatabase matching the wearer characteristic data; and listing forselection by the wearer any bras in the database whose characteristicsmatch the wearer characteristic data.

The bra characteristic data preferably includes bra cup shape data, inwhich case the method further comprises measuring a wearer's breastshape and including the wearer's breast shape in the wearercharacteristic data. For a consistent, repeatable and objectiveassessment of size and fit, it is preferred that the bra cup size andwearer breast size are measured volumetrically and moreover that thevolumetric measurement of the wearer breast size is performed when thebreast is in a supported shape.

To cater for wearer preference, the bra characteristic dataadvantageously includes bra type and/or bra features data, and themethod further comprises including wearer preference data as to bra typeand/or bra features in the wearer characteristic data.

This aspect of the invention extends to a system for buying or sellingbras as herein defined, the system comprising a database of brascontaining bra characteristic data including bra size and bra cup sizemeasured from a sample of actual bras; measuring means for measuring awearer's breast and torso size to obtain wearer characteristic data;search means for searching the database to find bra characteristic datawithin the database matching the wearer characteristic data, andselection means for listing for selection by the wearer any availablebras in the database that match the wearer characteristic data.

The flexibility of this system lends itself to use in retail outlets aswell as the selection of bras by mail order and the Internet. Indeed,the invention may be the key to wider public acceptance of bra shoppingvia mail order or the Internet.

A breast measuring method that can be employed in conjunction with theinvention comprises applying a receptacle of known volume to a breast todetermine the volume of the breast when the breast is comfortably fittedwithin and supported by the receptacle. The breast measuring methodsuitably comprises applying a plurality of receptacles in turn to abreast, the receptacles being of different volumes and/or shapes andselecting from that plurality the receptacle giving the most comfortablesupporting fit to the breast received within.

Fit may be identified by observing the breast through the receptacle, towhich end the receptacle is preferably somewhat transparent, translucentor otherwise see-through.

The method can be performed first on one breast and then on the otherbreast, or on both breasts simultaneously. In the latter case, tworeceptacles can be linked and applied together to the respectivebreasts, and torso girth can be measured by passing a tape or straparound the torso and reading a girth measurement from indicia on thetape or strap situated at the front or side of the torso. For accurateand consistent measurement, a predetermined tensile load is preferablyapplied to the tape or strap before reading the girth measurement.

The breast measuring method can be effected by using a breast measuringapparatus comprising a receptacle of known volume applicable to a breastto check for comfortable fit and to determine the volume of the breastcomfortably fitted within the receptacle, the receptacle emulating theshape of a supported breast and being sufficiently rigid to support thebreast in the shape of the receptacle.

The user is preferably provided with a set of such receptacles ofdifferent volumes and/or shapes, each receptacle of the set includingindicia indicating its volume and/or shape. As aforesaid, a pair ofreceptacles can be linked to emulate a bra, in which case a torso strapand optionally also shoulder straps can be provided.

The invention may also be used in conjunction with a measuring strap ortape for use around a user's torso, the strap or tape comprising atension-indicating means having first and second portions that arelinked by a resilient bias means for relative movement when the strap ortape is under longitudinal tension, wherein the resilient bias meansacts against the longitudinal tension and the portions includeco-operable indicia that are brought into mutual alignment by saidrelative movement at a predetermined longitudinal tension.

Conveniently, the first and second portions are strap or tape portionsthat define a mutual longitudinal axis and are disposed generally end toend along that axis, and the first and second portions overlap in theregion of the indicia. The first portion can include a window or cut-outand the second portion can include an indicator aligned with and visiblethrough that window or cut-out when the strap or tape is at thepredetermined longitudinal tension. The indicator is preferably at leastpartially hidden by the first portion when the strap or tape is not atthe predetermined longitudinal tension.

The strap or tape can be used in a method of measuring the girth of atorso or other compressible body, comprising passing the measuring tapeor strap around the body, applying a predetermined tension to the tapeor strap by reading a tension indicator associated therewith, andmeasuring the girth of the body while maintaining said predeterminedtension. The predetermined tension can be maintained by fastening thetape or strap to itself or to another structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more easily understood, referencewill now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the correlation of twovolumetric measurements to provide information on a suitable bra.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of a single measuringreceptacle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view along line IV—IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows two measuring receptacles as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4,fastened together to form a breast measuring device and including anoptional, additional torso measuring strap;

FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of a strap in accordance with theinvention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic frontal perspective views of a bra measuringdevice in accordance with the invention, FIG. 7 showing the devicewithout a bra and FIG. showing the device with a bra that is beingmeasured;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a prototype bra measuring device correspondingto the bra measuring device illustrated schematically in FIGS. 7 and 8;and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the prototype bra measuring device of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the invention employs correlation of breastvolume with bra volume, by obtaining a volumetric measurement of eachbreast which is correlated to volumetric measurements of bras. In thisway, the two measurements are matched so that the user is provided witha correctly fitting bra thus eliminating the need for trial and error ofa range of bras, incorrect fitting and consequential discomfort. Afurther advantage of matching two accurate volumetric measurements isthat the inevitable discrepancy between different styles and makes ofbras is mitigated.

In FIG. 1, an accurate volumetric measurement of actual bra cups isobtained by a retailer, a manufacturer or preferably an independent bodysuch as a measuring laboratory. In order to provide the consumer withthe maximum amount of information so as to give a wide and informedchoice—and also to confer statistical validity upon the measurementfindings—it is necessary that volumetric measurements are obtained foras many styles, sizes and makes of bra as possible. This information isheld on a database to which a consumer has access, in the manner of alook-up table.

Advantageously, several nominally identical examples of a given bra aremeasured in this way, thereby to gain an understanding of typical sizetolerance for that type of bra. That information is also fed into thedatabase. For example, some bra manufacturers may employ a greaterdegree of manual labour than others, and this can be expected to show ina wider size tolerance range that should be taken into account whenselecting a bra made by that manufacturer. Suitably, random samples aretaken from a production line, and feedback concerning tolerance is sentback to the manufacturer for quality assurance purposes.

By means such as the shaped bladders that will be described below withreference to the bra measuring device of FIGS. 7 and 8, the cup shapecharacteristics of a bra are also measurable. If measured, these cupshape characteristics can be added to the database for correlation withbreast shape characteristics measured by a user.

In parallel and in accordance with another aspect of the invention thatwill be discussed more thoroughly below in relation to FIGS. 2 to 6, theconsumer obtains an accurate volumetric measurement of her breasts, andtorso circumference or girth. This measurement is then queried on thedatabase by means of a search engine, which matches the measured volume,and optionally also the shape, of the consumer's breasts with thevolumes and, if appropriate, shapes of suitably-sized bras held on thedatabase. Once a match is obtained, the search engine will inform theconsumer of any matches by suggesting at least one style and/or make ofbra that would provide a suitable fit. It is preferred that the searchengine applies fuzzy logic so as intelligently to match the availablebras to the user's requirements, having regard to issues such asmanufacturing tolerance.

As many consumers will require specific types of bra, the search engineincludes the option of adding in features of preference as to style andfunction, such as padding or underwiring, or sports, maternity or lacy,which will reduce the number of results produced. This is a standardfacility of most search engines. To this end, the database of bracharacteristics also includes classification fields enabling selectionof bras that match the options selected by the consumer.

The addition of some features, especially padding for example, maymarkedly alter the size of the bra required. However, if the volume ofsuch a bra is known and is correlated with an accurate measurement ofbreast volume, the consumer will immediately be able to ascertain thecorrect size that she requires.

Further to help the consumer, the information held on bracharacteristics may also include information as to where the consumercan locate the correct bra, or, if the information is held by aretailer, whether or not the bra selected is in stock. If the bra is notin stock, the consumer may then be prompted to try a different bra whichis in stock. In this way, the consumer will be advised as to the correctbra with minimum time, effort and frustration involved.

The accurate bra measurement and hence the accurate bra characteristicsdatabase of the invention provides a further useful facility. If a womanknows that she is usually comfortable in a particular size of aparticular type of bra, say a 34B Wonderbra (trade mark), and typicalcharacteristics such as size and size tolerance of such a bra are knownby means of the invention, it is possible to seek matchingcharacteristics in other types of bra within the database. Effectively,the user tells the system “I am size X in a particular bra style” andasks the system “in view of that, what size would I be in bra styles Yor Z?”

Turning to the breast measuring device in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings,this aspect of the invention seeks to determine with accuracy the volumeof the breast when the breast is in a supported state. The breasts aremeasured by one or a plurality of self-supporting receptacles that areappropriately shaped, have a known volume and are of sufficienttransparency or translucency to enable the user to see how the breastsfit into the receptacles to ensure correct fitting.

In order for the user accurately to determine her breast volume, she isprovided with a series of measuring receptacles in a set forself-measurement. The measuring receptacles in the set are of differentsizes and shapes, covering the approximate known breast size and shapeof the user. It is possible that the measuring receptacles could be usedin retail outlets to enable customers to measure themselves beforeselecting an appropriate bra. However, it is particularly envisaged thata customer would request a set of measuring receptacles to be sent toher by mail so that she may measure herself in the privacy of her ownhome.

To accommodate mailing, the receptacles are shaped so that onereceptacle can be nested within another to some extent for ease ofpackaging. For example, the receptacles can be stacked within each otherin descending volume to reduce the space required to package the set.The receptacles are also lightweight and economical to produce, to whichend the receptacles are preferably moulded from lightweight plastics.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, a measuring receptacle 10 ofthe present invention is a hollow cup having an internal shape thatessentially mirrors the shape of a comfortably-supported breast, beingcomplementary to its surface contour. As breasts of the same volume maydiffer substantially in shape from woman to woman, the receptacle 10 isshaped to suit the comfortably supported shape of the breast beingmeasured, this being advantageous for comfort and accuracy.

In order to obtain an accurate measurement of the breast, it ispreferred, but not essential, that the measuring receptacle 10 wholly orsubstantially surrounds the breast that it is intended to fit.Accordingly, the receptacle 10 is shaped to surround the whole or asubstantial part of the breast. In use, the rim 12 of the receptaclefits around the circumference of the breast, the mass of which issupported within the receptacle 10. The rim 12 defining the edge of thereceptacle 10 closest to the user's torso in use is non-planar, the sideedge portions being convex-curved and the top and bottom edge portionsbeing concave-curved. In this way, the receptacle fits snugly againstthe curvature of the user's torso around the breast without having to bepressed uncomfortably into the user's flesh. The receptacle 10 is alsosymmetrical about its central longitudinal plane that is vertical in use(line IV—IV of FIG. 2), thus being usable on either of the user'sbreasts.

The measuring receptacle 10 may include shaping to accommodate thenipple (not shown), such as a hole or a protruding chamber at theappropriate position. Due allowance may be made in volumetriccalculations for the effect upon volume of such shaping.

It will be appreciated that the shape of a breast varies according toits size. For example, a small breast tends towards a more circularfrontal outline and hemispherical curvature compared to a larger breastwhich will tend towards a more ovate frontal outline and a halfpear-shaped, half-teardrop or inverted semi-cardioid side outline due tothe effect of gravity. Accordingly, the circumference and shape of themeasuring receptacles 10 will vary in a similar manner as breast sizeincreases to ensure an accurate fit and measurement.

The single measuring receptacle 10 shown in frontal view in FIG. 2 isshaped to measure a breast having an approximate 36B or 36C cupmeasurement, according to current standard measurement terms.Accordingly, the receptacle 10 has a generally ovate frontal shape,wider towards the bottom and narrower towards the top. FIGS. 3 and 4show the same measuring receptacle 10 viewed in perspective andlongitudinal cross-section, from which it will be evident that the sideoutline approximates to a half teardrop, again wider at the bottom thanat the top.

The volume of a breast may be ascertained by placing that breast in asingle measuring receptacle 10. Depending upon the size of her breasts,the user may find it helpful to bend her torso forwards when placing abreast into the receptacle 10 so that the breast hangs down, whereuponthe user lifts the receptacle 10 onto the breast. This emulates thecorrect way of donning a bra where the wearer's breasts are relativelylarge.

If the receptacle 10 is too large, the unfilled space within thereceptacle 10 will be apparent because, to facilitate visualisation ofthe fit, the receptacle 10 has a degree of transparency or translucencyso that the breast can be at least partially seen when in the receptacle10. Similarly, if the receptacle 10 is too small, areas where the breastpresses too hard against the interior of the receptacle 10 will bevisible readily from the exterior of the receptacle 10 as areas of redor pink colour. In any event, if the receptacle 10 is too small,excessive pressure of the receptacle 10 on the breast will be feltand/or a gap will exist between the rim 12 of the receptacle 10 and thetorso.

If the receptacle 10 selected by the user is not a suitable fit, areceptacle 10 of a larger or smaller size or different shape is selectedfrom the set as appropriate and the procedure is repeated until acorrect fit is achieved. If the receptacle 10 fits snugly around thebreast, the volume of that receptacle 10 may then be read asappropriate.

While not essential, the embodiment shown has a reinforcement around therim 12. As best shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4, thisreinforcement may be in the form of a rolled or thickened lip. However,those skilled in the art will know that other forms of reinforcement arepossible. The reinforcement not only strengthens the receptacle 10 butalso contributes to ensuring a snug fit around the breast.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcement may include means totolerate some variation in size and shape between breasts. For example,a strip of foam rubber may be fixed to the rim to provide sometolerance, as well as providing a greater degree of comfort to the userwhere the receptacle 10 abuts the user's torso.

When considering the material from which the receptacles 10 are made,certain criteria should be taken into account. For example, the materialshould ideally have a soft and preferably non-slippery feel to it sothat the receptacle is pleasant to use. For instance, blow moulding ofpolymers may be used to impart a texture to the surface of the plastic.It would also be possible to perforate the plastic to combineventilation with texturing.

An advantageous feature evident from FIGS. 2 and 3 is a gripping surfaceregion 14 on the outer surface of the receptacle 10 that extends aroundthe outer surface in a waisted loop. The loop has a relatively smallupper part and a relatively large lower part and narrows near the apexof the convex-curved outer surface in the region corresponding to theuser's nipple. The gripping surface region 14 has a relatively roughsurface compared to the surrounding surface of the receptacle 10 and maybe applied to the receptacle 10 or, preferably, is moulded in to thereceptacle 10, for example by a spark-eroded portion of a mould. Thegripping surface region 14 helps to prevent the receptacle 10 slippingin the user's grasp during use, and it will be noted that the waistedloop shape coincides with the ideal position of the user's fingers whenthe user holds the receptacle 10 in place. The user is thereforeencouraged to place her fingertips on the gripping surface region 14while keeping her fingertips away from other parts of the receptacle 10,notably the rim portion around the gripping surface region 14 and thecentral portion within the loop of the gripping surface region 14, whosetransparency or translucency is maintained to allow observation ofbreast fit through the receptacle 10.

Not only does the gripping surface region 14 help to prevent thereceptacle 10 slipping in the user's grasp, it also helps users toorient the receptacle 10 correctly in use, for example by ensuring thatthe larger part of the loop is below the smaller part of the loop. Also,if distinctively shaped to suit a particular shape and size ofreceptacle 10, the gripping surface region 14 helps to distinguish thatreceptacle 10 from other differently-shaped or differently-sizedreceptacles 10 of a set.

The material of the receptacle 10 should also be of sufficient rigidityto be self-supporting. In other words, the material should have acertain bending modulus. Another consideration is the translucency ofthe material, the advantages of which are described above. The materialshould also be lightweight for it to be sent easily in the mail if sorequired. In general, it is preferred that the receptacles 10 are madefrom a material which has sufficient rigidity and inextensibility thatthe breasts are supported and held in an appropriate shape duringmeasurement, but that has some flexibility for comfort in use.

Whilst the use of essentially solid polymers has been suggested above,the breast-receiving portion of the receptacle 10 could incorporate amesh or a woven, knitted or randomly-oriented filamentary or fibrousmaterial that has sufficient strength to hold a breast in a supportedstate. In this way, the receptacle 10 could be pressed flat for mailingand pressed back into shape for use, as could suitable solid polymers.Mesh and the like also has a measure of translucency even if theelements or filaments making up the mesh are themselves opaque.

In order for the user to know the volume of her breast(s), an indicationof the volume of the measuring receptacle 10 is shown on the receptacle10, either in the form of indicia or a scale which may be correlated toa look up table. For example, a certain volume or range of volumes maybe assigned a particular colour or icon, so that a given volume of say300 millilitres relates to a particular colour or icon applied to thereceptacle 10. A measuring receptacle 10 may also be marked with indiciarepresentative of the shape of the receptacle 10. Conveniently, asmentioned above, the shape of the gripping region 14 itself serves as anindication of shape and size of the receptacle 10 to which it isapplied.

When measuring breast volume, a single receptacle 10 may be used in turnon each breast. Alternatively, two receptacles 10 may be joined togetherto create a breast measuring device 16 emulating a bra as shown in FIG.5. Two receptacles 10 may be attached to each other by flexible means 18such as Velcro® or by lengths of tape or ribbon which may be tied orfixed together. These flexible means may also incorporate indicia (notshown) to measure the distance between the two breasts. While thismeasurement is less applicable to bras manufactured in relatively largequantities, it may provide an important measurement if a bra is to betailored to the wearer.

An advantage of being able to attach one receptacle 10 to another isthat a breast measuring device 16 may be assembled with two receptacles10 of differing volumes to accommodate size differences between thebreasts. Again, this will be more applicable to sizing breasts for a brawhich is to be tailored to the wearer.

Additionally, each receptacle 10 may include flexible means that enablethe breast measuring device to be held around the torso, suitably in theform of torso straps 20. These straps 20 constitute torso measurementmeans for assisting self-measurement of the wearer's torso. Where themeasuring device 16 emulates a bra, as shown in FIG. 5, the torsomeasurement means 20 emulates the torso strap of a bra and thereforecomprises two strap portions that fasten together.

The torso strap portions 20 may be of tape or ribbon, possibly includingstuds or Velcro®, and may or may not include measuring indicia 21. Whereprovided, such measuring indicia 21 may be characters, icons or a colourscale. However, it is helpful for the user if these indicia 21 are of asize that is readily visible so that the relevant indicia 21 can readilybe understood when looking in a mirror, even over the shoulder ifnecessary.

It is almost impossible using a standard measuring tape to obtain anaccurate measurement of torso size when peering behind oneself in amirror, even when using an arrangement of two mirrors in which thereflected image from one mirror is viewed in the other mirror.Consequently, the readily-visible scale of the torso measuring meansincludes a series of indicia 21 that differ markedly from one another tothe extent that the relative positions of the two strap portions, andhence the size of the wearer's torso, is readily apparent even whenlooking over the shoulder into a mirror.

For example, the indicia 21 could be a series of coloured regions, eachcolour corresponding to a particular torso size. It is further preferredthat intermediate regions of the sequence are a combination of coloursin the neighbouring blocks, e.g. red, red/blue stripes, blue.

It is notable in this respect that colour-based indicia 21 will workwell whether viewed with one or two mirrors. Conversely, numerals orother characters would only work properly when viewed with two mirrors,because unless themselves expressed in mirror writing, numerals dependupon the mirror-image reversal of one mirror to be corrected by theother mirror.

Where the measuring device 16 emulates a bra as shown in FIG. 5,shoulder straps (not shown) may also be provided to help the wearer donthe measuring device 16 by locating the receptacles 10 over the breastswhile fastening the torso strap 20. Such straps suitably pass over eachshoulder by extending between the top edge of each receptacle 10 and thetorso measuring strap 20. To ensure a comfortable fit, the shoulderstraps may also include means to adjust the length of each strap, forexample, a simple sliding clasp.

Whilst over-shoulder measurement will not usually be necessary becauseshoulder straps of bras are generally capable of extensive lengthadjustment, it would be possible for similar measurement means as areproposed for the torso strap 20 to be applied to any shoulder strapsthat may be fitted to the measuring device 16.

Where torso straps 20 and/or shoulder straps form part of the measuringdevice 16, it is preferred that any fastenings are confined to the frontor side of the user's torso. This ensures that the fastenings can bemanipulated easily and that associated indicia 21 can be read directly,if necessary with the aid of a mirror situated conveniently in front orto one side of the user. If needs be, strap portions 20 can loop behindthe wearer's back and cross over to extend back round to the front orside of the wearer's torso for fastening and measurement purposes.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a strap according to theinvention (which could be a torso strap 20 or a shoulder strap)comprises opposed first and second strap portions 26, 28 whose ends canbe fastened together by Velcro® pads 28 when the ends are in overlappingrelation as shown. As aforesaid, the strap portions 26, 28 have indicia21, in this case a series of coloured rectangles disposed along thefirst strap portion 26, that can be read by a user to indicate thelength of the fastened strap when a rectangle is aligned with the freeend of the second strap portion 28.

FIG. 6 shows another technique for colouring an intermediate block amongthe indicia 21. This is to divide such a block into two regions, thecolour of each region corresponding to the colour of each respectiveneighbouring block. This can be achieved in different ways, one way(shown by block 22 in FIG. 6) being to divide the block 22 into oblonghalves divided by a longitudinal border and another way (shown by block23 in FIG. 6) being to divide the block 23 into triangular halvesdivided by a diagonal border. An advantage of the latter arrangement isthat the proportion of one colour to another exposed in use varies inaccordance with the longitudinal relative positions of the strapportions 26, 28.

One of the strap portions 28 is itself divided into portions. Theselatter portions will be described as upper and lower portions 32, 34 inthis instance because these portions, too, overlap, albeit in a mannerthat permits the upper portion 32 to slide over the lower portion 34.The lower portion 34 is marked with a rectangular indicator 36 and theupper portion is penetrated by a rectangular window 38 of similar sizethrough which the whole of the indicator 36 can be viewed when thewindow 38 and the indicator 36 are aligned with each other. When thewindow 38 and the indicator 36 are slightly misaligned, only part of theindicator 36 is visible in the window 38 together with some neighbouringbackground of the lower portion 34. This indicates the direction ofrelative movement necessary to achieve proper alignment.

The free end of the upper portion 32 is linked to an intermediate partof the lower portion 34 by a spring 40 that transmits a tensile loadfrom the upper portion 32 to the lower portion 34 when the second strapportion 28 is pulled taut. The spring 40 elongates under this load. Theelongation characteristic of the spring 40 is selected so that when theload reaches a predetermined level corresponding to a tension within thesecond strap portion 28 that is deemed to be consistent with comfort,the indicator 36 is aligned with the window 38 to indicate this comfortpoint to the user. Accordingly, when the first and second strap portions26, 28 have been fastened together under appropriate tension, theindicator 36 confirms that there is comfortable tension in the strap 20as a whole.

In addition to ensuring comfort, the strap of FIG. 6 very simplyprovides consistency of girth measurement that is difficult to achievewhen encircling a compressible body such as a torso. The problem is thatpulling on a strap to ensure that it is taut compresses the bodyencircled by the strap, and so the girth of the body will change as aresult of the measurement process. This introduces self-defeatinginaccuracy unless a consistent degree of compression is created andallowed for.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the same principle canbe applied to a measuring tape that is also within the ambit of theinvention, and that an elastic band or other resilient bias means couldbe used in place of the spring.

In order for the measurement obtained by the user of the measuringdevice to be correlated with volumes of marketed bras, the inventioncontemplates means by which the size characteristics of any given bracan be measured accurately. Specifically, the invention contemplates adevice including an artificial representation of a female torso as shownschematically in FIGS. 7 and 8 and in prototype form in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The artificial torso 42 in FIGS. 7 and 8 is generally elliptical in planand is a frustum tapering downwardly towards a base 44 that supports thetorso 42. The front of the artificial torso 42 includes at least one butpreferably two bladders 46 of elastomeric material, the shape andpositioning of which represent breasts.

To reduce the number of artificial torsos 42 necessary to measure a fullrange of bras, it is advantageous to include as many modes of adjustmentas possible. For this reason, the artificial torso 42 is segmented inplan view into two frontal segments 48 and two rear segments 50 so thatits girth can be varied by varying the separation of the segments 48,50. Each segment 48, 50 is supported by a support leg 52 that isanchored by the base 44.

Arched shoulder supports 54 are an optional addition shown hereextending from front to back over the segments 48, 50 of the artificialtorso 42 to support shoulder straps of a bra. These shoulder supports 54can be adjustable in height and separation to emulate long, short, wideand narrow torsos. Separation of the shoulder supports 54 can beadjusted by mounting them to segments 48, 50 whose separation is itselfadjustable. It would also be possible to mount the shoulder supports 54at different lateral positions with respect to their supporting segments48, 50, thereby to emulate relatively wide-shouldered ornarrow-shouldered women whose breast spacing is the same.

It will be noted that the respective bladders 46 are on separate frontalsegments 48, this feature providing a means for varying the separationof the bladders 46 to emulate reality in which separation betweenbreasts can vary. This also provides a means for varying the size orshape of the bladders 46 by interchangeably removing and replacingsuitably-equipped frontal segments 48, thereby emulating differentbreast characteristics.

The separation between segments 48, 50 can be varied in many ways. Forexample, the segments 48, 50 can be mounted to respective carriages onthe base 44, which carriages are movable with respect to the base 44 bypropulsion means such as hydraulic rams, pneumatic actuators or steppermotors. Other ways of mounting the segments 48, 50 to the base 44 in amovable manner will be evident to those skilled in the art. For example,interchangeable segments 48, 50 can be differently offset with respectto their support legs 52 to vary the spacing between segments 48, 50. Ifdesired, the segments 48, 50 need not be movable during a brameasurement operation, but only between such operations when it isdesired to adapt the artificial torso 42 to emulate different torsogirths.

Each bladder 46 is in communication with a respective pump 56,represented here schematically by a piston or plunger movable within acylinder in the manner of a syringe. In reality, it is preferred thatthe pump 56 is a peristaltic pump having rotatable paddles such that thevolume of fluid delivered can be inferred from the number of rotationsof the paddles.

The pump 56 introduces a working fluid, preferably an incompressible andsomewhat viscous liquid or (if compatible with the hydraulic system) agel-like substance such as silicone, into the associated bladder 46under pressure to expand the bladder 46 against the contracting force ofthe elastomeric material. A non-return valve 58 between each pump 56 andits associated bladder 46 retains pressure in the bladder 46 until thatpressure is deliberately released.

Each pump 56 includes a volumetric scale 60 whereby the volume of fluidpumped in to the associated bladder 46 can be measured, thereby gainingan accurate indication of the volume of the bladder 46 at any point ofthe bladder expansion process. Pressure within each bladder 46 can beread off a respective pressure gauge 62 sited downstream of theassociated non-return valve 58.

Whilst the duplicated pumps 56, non-return valves 58, volumetric scales60 and pressure gauges 62 could conceivably be replaced by a single pump56 and so on connected to both bladders by a common manifold, theduplicated arrangement is greatly preferred as it allows independentmeasurement of each bladder and compensates for variations between thebladders. Nevertheless, whilst shown externally for clarity, the pumps56, non-return valves 58, volumetric scales 60 and pressure gauges 62can all be housed in the base 44, with the volumetric scales 60 andpressure gauges 62 suitably being displayed on the front panel thereof.It is also emphasised that the syringe form of the pumps 56 is notessential, although it is currently much preferred for its accuracy inmetering slow-flowing fluids.

In use when measuring the size characteristics of a bra 64 including, inparticular, the volume of its cups 66, a bra 64 is fitted around theartificial torso 42 as shown in FIG. 8 and is located so that thepartially-deflated bladders 46 fit inside the cups 66, with the torsostraps of the bra 68 fitted around the artificial torso 42 and theshoulder straps 70, if any, passing over the shoulder supports 54. Thepumps 56 are then activated to fill the bladders 46 with fluid, causingthem to expand under internal fluid pressure until they occupy fully thecups 66 of the bra 64 being measured.

To gain a reasonably accurate indication of tightness and hence fit, thebra 64 and/or the artificial torso 42 can be fitted with various sensorsto indicate tensile stress on the bra straps 68, 70 and/or cups 66, andpressure exerted on the torso 42 and/or the bladders 46 by the bra 64.These sensors include strain gauges and pressure sensors as appropriate,for example pressure sensors 72 on the artificial torso 42 immediatelyunder the bladders 46 to determine pressure exerted by the bra 64 at thesensitive area where bras 64 are often stiffly reinforced by wires andcause the most discomfort if not properly fitted. These pressure sensors72 are visible only in FIG. 7, being covered by the bra 64 shown in FIG.8 which also includes strain gauges 74 associated with the torso strap68 and the shoulder straps 70.

Using sensors such as these, the appropriate degree of expansion of thebladders 46 can be sensed, whereupon expansion can be stopped and thevolume of the bladders 46 deduced from the amount of fluid that has beenpumped in to them. It is also to be expected that when the bladders 46have filled the bra cups 66 and their expansion is therefore restrained,continued operation of the pumps 56 will lead to sharply increasingpressure within the bladders 46. Early signs of this discontinuityobserved on the pressure gauges 62 are a further indication that thebladders 46 are a comfortably close fit within the cups 66 of the bra 64and that the pumps 56 should be stopped so that volumetric measurementsof the bladders 46 should be taken. Control means may be providedautomatically to stop the pumps 56 once the discontinuity in thepressure curve is sensed.

These measurements can and should be supplemented by direct observationof fit, particularly to see when the cups 66 of the bra 64 are pushedaway from the artificial torso 42 and when the straps 68, 70 of the bra64 press against the supporting surfaces of the artificial torso 42,those supporting surfaces advantageously being of soft materialemulating body tissue to enable easy visual recognition of localisedcompression at any pinch points. In general, it is preferred that theartificial torso 42 should be structured to emulate a rib cage, having aflexible and resilient layer of, for example, foam or rubber around arelatively rigid internal structure of, for example, metal that couldbe, but need not be, of skeletal form.

Referring finally to FIGS. 9 and 10, a prototype bra measuring devicebroadly corresponds to the bra measuring device of FIGS. 7 and 8; likenumerals are used for like parts, although details such as the pumps,gauges and associated pipework are omitted for clarity. It will be notedthat the artificial torso 42 in FIGS. 9 and 10 more closely resembles ahuman female torso and that the front of the torso includes tworemovable elastomeric bladder modules 80, one of which has been removedin FIG. 9 to leave a recess 82 ready to accept a different bladdermodule 80 as needs be. Any suitable releasable fixing means (not shown)such as inter-engaging formations, bolts or clamps may be used to hold abladder module 80 in place within its recess 82.

The bladder module 80 that remains in FIG. 9 shows how the bladder 46 issurrounded by a collar 84 shaped to fit the recess 82 and to support thebladder 46 in a breast-like shape, for which purpose the exposed frontmembrane of the bladder 46 is shaped to emulate a breast, being of halfpear-shaped, half-teardrop or inverted semi-cardiod vertical crosssection. A nipple formation 86 is also shown.

Whilst the bladder modules 80 will have identical mating features interms of the overall shape and size of the collar 84 (save that somewill be mirror-images of others to suit the two sides of the torso), theexposed front membrane of the bladder 46 will vary from module to moduleso as to emulate larger, smaller or differently-shaped breasts.

Again, the artificial torso 42 of FIGS. 9 and 10 is segmented in planview into two frontal segments 48 and two rear segments 50 so that itsgirth can be varied by varying the separation of the segments 48, 50. Inthis instance, each segment 48, 50 is supported by a respective supportplate 88 and each support plate 88 can be moved in relation to itsneighbours by suitable means. Although not shown in the simplified viewsof FIGS. 9 and 10, it is envisaged that the support plates 88 can bemoved on a system of threaded rods.

As best shown in the side view of FIG. 10, the optional arched shouldersupports 54 of FIGS. 7 and 8 are replaced by shoulder portions 90integral with the front segments 48 that extend rearwardly over the rearsegments 50 to support the shoulder straps of a bra (not shown).

The artificial torsos 42 exemplified by FIGS. 7 to 10 may have a furtheradvantageous feature to emulate the correct way in which a wearer havingrelatively large breasts should don a bra. Specifically, the torso 42can be mounted on a tiltable support in which, for example, a hydraulicram can be actuated to pivot the torso forwards through about 90° abouta horizontal pivot axis. This causes the bladders 46 representingbreasts to hang down, whereupon a bra 68 can be lifted onto the bladders46 and secured about the torso 42. Of course, the bra 68 can bepartially or fully secured about the torso 42 before tilting takesplace, the tilting then merely assisting correct fitting of the bladders46 within the cups of the bra 68.

Those skilled in the art will know that the present invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit oressential attributes. For example, a further bladder could be associatedwith the artificial torso and/or its segments to vary torso girth duringbra measurement, thereby to assess the effect of different torso sizeson bra fit. A similar effect could be obtained by moving the segments ofthe artificial torso during bra measurement to vary their mutualseparation.

In view of these and other variants, reference should be made to theappended claims and other general or conceptual statements herein ratherthan to the foregoing specific description as indicating the scope ofthe invention.

1. A method of identifying bras suitable for a wearer, the method comprising: establishing a database of bras containing bra characteristic data comprising bra size and bra cup size wherein said bra size and said bra cup size for each bra of the database is determined by measuring a sample comprising a randomly selected plurality of actual, nominally identical bras; measuring a wearer's breast and torso size to obtain wearer characteristic data, wherein the wearer's breast size is measured volumetrically while the breast is in a bra-supported shape in a receptacle; searching the database to find bra characteristic data within the database matching the wearer characteristic data; and listing for selection by the wearer any bras in the database whose characteristics match the wearer characteristic data.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bra charactenstic data further comprises bra cup shape data, and the method further comprises measuring a wearer's breast shape and including the wearer's breast shape in the wearer characteristic data.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bra cup size is measured volumetrically.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bra characteristic data further comprises bra type and/or bra features data, and wherein the method further comprises including wearer preference data as to bra type and/or bra features in the wearer characteristic data.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising advising the wearer of the availability and/or location of a bra matching the wearer characteristic data.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the wearer's breast and torso size takes place at a location remote from a stock of bras, such as at home.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising delivering measuring means to the wearer at the remote location.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising delivering a selected bra to the wearer at the remote location.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring breast and torso size by reference to a bra that is known to be a comfortable fit; searching the database to find bra characteristic data for that bra; and searching the database to find matching bra characteristic data among other bras in the database.
 10. A system for identifying bras suitable for a wearer, the system comprising: a database of bras containing bra characteristic data comprising bra size and bra cup size wherein said bra size and said bra cup size for each bra of the database is determined by measuring a sample comprising a randomly selected plurality of actual, nominally identical bras; measuring means for volumetrically measuring a wearer's breast while the breast is a bra-supported shape in a receptacle and torso size to obtain wearer characteristic data; search means for searching the database to find bra characteristic data within the database matching the wearer characteristic data; and selection means for listing for selection by the wearer any available bras in the database that match the wearer characteristic data.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the database further comprises bra type data.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the database further comprises bra features data.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bra features data further comprises data concerning padding and underwiring.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the bra cup size is a volumetric measurement.
 15. The system of claim 10, further comprising delivery means for delivering a bra selected from a stock of bras to the wearer at a location remote from the stock of bras.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the measuring means are at said location remote from the stock of bras.
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the search and selection means are accessible by the wearer on-line.
 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the measuring means is a bra that is known to be a comfortable fit. 